New Blood Pressure Guidelines Push for Change in Diet

The nation’s leading heart experts have issued new guidelines for high blood pressure. The changes mean tens of millions more Americans will meet the criteria for the condition. The overall number of adults with hypertension is expected to rise to 103 million from 72 million under the previous standard. However, the number of people who are new candidates for drug treatment will rise only by an estimated 4.2 million. Although only a small increase is expected in the number of adults requiring antihypertensive medication, the American Heart Association felt people need to know about it in order to make the appropriate lifestyle changes.

What is Systolic and Diastolic Pressure

Systolic reading refers to the pressure when the heart contracts and sends blood through the arteries. Diastolic pressure is measured when the heart relaxes between beats. The new classifications are specific in how they determine who is at risk:

• High blood pressure rates could nearly triple among men age 20 to 44; up to 30 percent from 11 percent.
• Women age 20 to 44 will see their rates almost double, to 19 percent from 10 percent.
• Three-quarters of men between 55 and 74 could be diagnosed with high blood pressure.
• Black and Hispanic men will experience a 17 percent increase in rates. Asian men will see a 16 percent increase.
• Men and women age 65 to 74 under the new classification will see high blood pressure rates increase by 13 percent and 12 percent.

The new guidelines on hypertension are based on a rigorous review of nearly 1,000 studies on the subject, which took the National Heart Association and American College of Cardiology three years to complete. The health organizations believe that more aggressive treatment involving lifestyle changes early-on will reduce life-threatening heart attacks and strokes.

Real Food Diets Recommended for Most Newcomers

The new guidelines recommend that people should only consider taking anti-hypertensive medications, if lifestyle changes don’t work, or they are in a high-risk category. Although there is a big jump in prevalence, you'll notice only a small increase in the number of people who will be prescribed hypertensive drugs. American Heart Association thinks the new guideline will encourage patients to adhere to recommendations and clinicians to be more vigorous in their attempts to prescribe lifestyle changes across all groups. The recommendation for most newcomers is a heart-healthy diet with a reduction in salt. At the Metabolic Research Center in Tampa, our weight loss consultant can personalize a menu plan that meets your body's unique needs. Call now and get started today.

* Download PDF of Highlights from the American Heart Association & American Stroke Association for the 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.